Three interior designers give advice on how to use white right. Get more white inspiration from this Victorian home and cabin.

Rachel Ashwell

Rachel Ashwell

Ashwell sparked a craze for slipcovered sofas and flea-market finds when she launched Shabby Chic 22 years ago. Today, she oversees two furniture lines, as well as a collection for Target. Her take on white decor? Pretty, but far from precious. Think rumpled linens and chipped paint gussied up by crystal chandeliers and fresh flowers. "My motto is 'beauty and comfort,'" Ashwell says. "If you can embrace the lived-in look, white is very practical."

What I Know About Decorating with White

What I Know About Decorating with White

WHITE IS NEVER BORING. Beige can be boring, but not white. It's a very dramatic color. That's proven over and over again by weddings — we never tire of looking at them.

WHITE CAN BE COZY. People think of it as cold, because they believe a white room must be neat and uniform with chairs lined up like good little soldiers. I avoid hard, modern pieces and use fluffy cushions and distressed finishes — so you still get that airy feeling, but with warmth to it.

WHITE MAKES FOR A FLEXIBLE AND FORGIVING FIRST STEP. Paint a room white, and you have a blank canvas for anything. Start with bold wallpaper, and you're already committed.